I went to the bank this past weekend and put down the monthly amount I have budgeted towards the College LOC. When I got home I dutifully opened up my spreadsheet and wrote that amount in.
Some quick math told me that at the end of May when I apply the monthly amount again, I am $180 away from bringing the total down under the next 'thousand'. Now we all know there is not much of a difference between buying something at $9.99 or at $10.00, but psychologically, that $9.99 just feels so much better :-) I find it's the same thing with my mortgage or my LOC.
So the quest for the rest of this month is to 'find' $180 so that I can make that possible.
Now I could take $180 out of my backpay and make it happen. Or I could take it out of my tax return when it comes. Or I could reduce the amount I tuck away each month for the boys for College, or my next savings goal....well you get the idea.
I don't want to do that.
Rather, I want to challenge myself to find that money to make it happen. I need that mental mind game to be a catalyst to getting that balance down, like I did with my vehicle loan or previous LOC amounts.
If I don't touch those amounts, then the only spot I can really make this happen is in my variable spending aka The Jars, and any change I may acquire.
Gas. Groceries. Entertainment. Spending.
I have 3 weeks to do it before next pay period.
The whole thing may go out the window with a murphy visit. DS1 is also taking spring session at College while he is down there for spring training and I have no idea what that is going to cost. Money may end up GOING on the loc. He also has to move out of his dorm and into the house he and his fellow freshman are renting. That is all new territory for me and I have no clue about potential costs.
So all of these well laid plans could change and be moot.
But for right now I am living in the spirit of optimism and will hope for the best.
To start this off, I had $30 left from groceries last week and $10 left from spending money, so I have $40 in the kitty.
$140 to go
Not Much Working Out Monday
2 hours ago
4 comments:
Good luck!! Do you have anything around the house you don't need/use & could sell to raise some extra funds?
Good luck! I enjoy those sorts of challenges too - I can usually squeeze some money out of the food and gas budgets.
Good luck. Could you perhaps do a side job/task to help bring in some cash?
Carla - we plan a garage sale in the summer so that will work for my next round of 'motivation'
Jane - I am hoping, though gas prices jumped this weekend. Reminder to self to fill here before it shoots back up to over a dollar per liter.
Pear - good idea but May/June doesn't give a lot of free time as a teacher. I coach track and we are finishing off drama production. Still working on healing with this colitis too. I am thinking of finding something over the summer even if it is just here and there.
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